en I am dead, if a similar fate be destined for me; but now may I bear
away illustrious glory, and compel some one of the Trojan women and
deep-robed Dardanians to sigh frequently, wiping away the tears from her
tender cheeks with both hands; and may they know that I have long ceased
from battle.[578] Wherefore do not hinder me from the combat, although
loving me, for thou wilt not persuade me."

[Footnote 575: [Greek: Eloria] is the more usual form, but
[Greek: elora] is recognized by Hesychius. "If correct," Kennedy
says, "it may be explained by the existence of [Greek: eloron]
from [Greek: elor] (Hesych. t. i. p. 1186, from Il. v. 488),
signifying the _price of slaughter_, by the same analogy as
[Greek: threpiron] (iv. 478) the _price of nutrition_."]

[Footnote 576: Observe the long hyperbaton, resulting from the
excitement of the speaker.]

[Footnote 577: Literally, "light."]

[Footnote 578: _I.e._ they shall find out the difference when I
make my appearance]

Him then the silver-footed goddess Thetis answered: "Certainly this is
true, O son, nor is it an evil thing to avert utter destruction from our
friends when afflicted. But thy beautiful arms, brazen and shining, are
detained among the Trojans, which crest-tossing Hector himself, having
on his shoulders, boasts of: yet I suspect that he will not long glory
in them, for death is near to him. But do thou by no means enter the
slaughter of Mars before thou beholdest me with thine eyes coming
hither. For at dawn I will return with the rising sun, bearing beautiful
armour from king Vulcan."

Thus having spoken, she turned round from her son, and being turned,
addressed her marine sisters: "Enter ye now the broad bosom of the deep,
about to behold the marine old man, and the mansions of my sire, and
tell him all things; but I go to lofty Olympus, to Vulcan, the skilful
artist, to try if he is willing to give my son illustrious, glittering
armour."

Thus she spoke, but they immediately sank beneath the wave of the sea.
But Thetis, the silver-footed goddess, again departed to Olympus, that
she might bear the illustrious armour to her beloved son. Her, on the
one hand, her feet bore towards Olympus: but the Greeks, flying with a
heaven-sent uproar from man-slaughtering Hector, reached the ships and
the Hellespont. Nor had the well-greaved Greeks drawn off the dead body
of Patroclus, the attendant of Achilles, out of the reach of